Ahead of Governorship and States House of Assembly elections, a Cleric, Alhaji Tomasi Akingbade has urged Nigerians to refrain from violence and acts capable of truncating democratic process of the country.
The Cleric gave the advice in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in a sermon at a special prayer for peaceful conduct of the governorship and House of Assembly elections across the country.
Akingbade admonished Nigerians to collectively work together toward ensuring violence-free elections irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliations, saying that no meaningful development could be attained in an atmosphere of chaos and acrimony in any part of the country.
He advised politicians to abide by the rules and regulations governing the conduct of elections instead of promoting disputes and disorders, noting that the special prayer is targeted at the on-going elections in the country.
"We want this Governorship and House of Assembly elections to be a violence-free and fair, in which the most righteous and God-fearing candidates would emerge to represent the interest of the people not themselves," Imam Akingbade said
He noted that the council of Imams and Alfas has always played a pivotal role of organising special prayers both congregationally and individually for the peaceful co-existence of the people in the society and the government, particularly during electioneering period and after elections, adding that religion as an index of culture and civilisation should have a role to play in redressing seemingly intractable problems.
He faulted the saying that religion and politics should not be good bedfellows in Nigeria. According to him, "Some corrupt Nigerian politicians maintain this position, unfortunately, they have used religion to achieve their goals when it suits them and then turn to argue that religion should not be brought into politics."
The Chairman, Abeokuta LCDA, Taofeek Oloyede, in his remarks advised residents of Abeokuta to shun destructive tendencies, in order to ensure successful polls across the country, saying that nothing to be gained in the acts capable of causing disaffection and disunity in the country.
He assured that election in the area would be peaceful and hitch-free. "We will adhere to the principle of rule of law and respect human right by not using government platform to override anybody but giving every contestants a level playing ground.
"Security agencies within our community are well equipped as the will safeguard the community in such a way that everybody will move from their home to the voting centres, in order to cast their votes, conduct their civic right/responsibility and go home peacefully." he said
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